Judge set to decide future of guns seized from local doctorLITTLE ROCK -- A federal judge will decide what should happen to more than $1 million worth of guns seized from the home of an Arkansas doctor who was later convicted in a bombing that nearly killed the head of the Arkansas State Medical Board. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Miller will consider arguments this week regarding the guns that belonged to Randeep Mann, who's serving a life sentence for the 2009 bombing at the West Memphis home of ...

Visitor arrested during hearingZachary M. Campbell is facing felony aggravated assault charges after allegedly firing a gun at a vehicle that had he said had been chasing him from Russellville to the 2800 block of Pine Ridge Road in Pottsville. "This is going to ruin me, judge, if I'm a felon," Campbell said as his bond hearing began on Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. According to a police report, Campbell was arrested on Aug. 18 after officers responded to a re...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man facing battery charges asks judge for job opportunityRandy A. Hassel, 20, who appeared in felony bond hearings on Wednesday for allegedly beating a man in the face with a baseball bat, wondered if District Judge Don Bourne might spare him a job. "You think I got jobs in my pocket and can hand them out like bubble gum?" Bourne said shortly before setting Hassel's bond at $25,000. "Yes, but can you give me a job, please?" Hassel said. "Or is there anything I can trade to pay my bond?" Bourne hesit...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Local man among 3 arrested after park incidentDANVILLE -- Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced Monday the arrest over the weekend of three individuals in connection with an incident at Delaware Bay Park. Steven Bailey, 37, of Russellville, Jessie Mason, 44, of Pine Bluff and Kenneth Jackson, 58, of Bentonville, were taken into custody after officers discovered firearms, suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in their camper. According to Chief Deputy John Foster, a Yell Cou...

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FOR THE COURIERwww.couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man arrested after altercationDANVILLE -- Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced Monday the arrest of a Havana man on Friday on felony domestic battery charges stemming from a weekend incident. Johnny Ray Carter, 55, was taken into custody after deputies were summoned to Chambers Memorial Hospital to in Danville meet with a female who reported Carter shoved her face into a door facing, according to Chief Deputy John Foster. Foster reported deputies made contact with Car...

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FOR THE COURIERwww.couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man busted for Walmart forgeryWhen Gerry A. Smith, who appeared during felony bond hearings Monday and faced charges of forgery, told District Judge Don Bourne he was on a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at Philander Smith College. Bourne sighed. "That may be coming to an end. A fella ought not squander his talent," he said, shortly before setting Smith's bond at $10,000. According to a police report provided to the court, Smith was arrested for his involvemen...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sex offender warns court of a lawsuitTony M. Ruiz, 26, warned the court of a pending lawsuit before being escorted out of felony bond hearings on Monday inside the Pope County Detention Center. Ruiz, who told District Judge Don Bourne he was originally from New York, was arrested for failing to register as a sex offender, but Ruiz told District Judge Don Bourne he was told by the state to get out of Arkansas. "I wasn't moving," Ruiz said. "All I did was put my stuff there. I was ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Body found near Horse Head LakeCLARKSVILLE -- The Johnson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) is investigating the death of a 42-year-old woman found Wednesday night. According to the agency's website, Sheriff Larry Jones said JCSO responded to a report of a body found before 7 p.m. Wednesday in a swimming area located at Horse Head Lake. Deputies arrived and located the body who had been found by kayakers in the area. The kayakers called 911 and began cardiopulmonary resuscitat...

County jailers arrange beatingFormer Pope County jailer William Tarvin, 33, was arrested Tuesday after allegedly encouraging four inmates to attack his wife's ex-husband, who was held at the jail for failure to pay child support. Eric Riggs, an investigator with the Pope County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), testified during felony bond hearings Monday inside the Pope County Detention Center that Tarvin told inmates the victim was abusive to his wife and "needed to be worked ove...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sebastian County Sheriff's deputy dies in shooting An Arkansas man who wanted to cause a "ruckus" ahead of a court hearing shot and killed a sheriff's deputy Wednesday, and wounded a small-town police chief, before surrendering to law enforcement officers who had surrounded his rural home, a sheriff said. Sebastian County Deputy Bill Cooper was pronounced dead about 1:15 p.m. after being shot in the neck, Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck said during a news conference. Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spell...

Four inmates and two corrections officers face charges of felony battery (2nd degree)In a statement released by the Pope County Sheriff's Office, as the result of an incident that occurred at the Pope County Detention Center at 6:07 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 5, 2016, an investigation was initiated regarding the assault of an inmate. Sheriff Shane Jones stated that on Tuesday, Aug. 9, six people, four of which are inmates, Cameron R. Jolley, Douglas R. DuVall, Clarence J. Robinson and James E. Avinger, were arrested in connection to...

Woman curses at cops after her arrestMaria K. Harrington, 37, had her bond set at $25,000 after District Judge Don Bourne found probable cause to hold her on charges of burglary. Harrington, who appeared in felony bond hearings on Monday inside the Pope County Detention Center, was also arrested on July 1 on two counts of theft of property. Harrington's bond in that case was $10,000. Harrington was arrested on Sunday at a residence on Avenue 3 NE in Atkins after police responded ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Woman arrested after passing out in standNatalie V. Oswald, 31, was arrested on Tuesday after authorities allegedly found her passed out inside the concession stand at McLaren Park in Atkins. District Judge Don Bourne found probable cause to hold her on charges of breaking and entering and criminal mischief during felony bond hearings on Wednesday inside the Pope County Detention Center. Her bond was set at $5,000. According to the police report narrative, officers found the "roll up...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Area woman sentenced for medicaid fraudLITTLE ROCK -- Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Tuesday the conviction of a Johnson County woman for Medicaid fraud. Sherry Wommack pleaded guilty in Pulaski County Circuit Court. Wommack was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay a fine of $600. As part of the sentencing agreement, she paid $5,606.75 in restitution to the Arkansas Medicaid Program Trust Fund. "Investigators and attorneys from the Attorney Ge...

Man arrested in alleged domestic disputeDANVILLE -- Justin Ray Latham, 35, was arrested on July 21 after Yell County Sheriff's Deputies responded to an alleged domestic violence incident on a residence on Hidden Lane near Dardanelle. According to a release from Sheriff Bill Gilkey, the responding officers heard a female screaming inside the residence when they arrive. Chief Deputy John Foster and Deputy Sheriff Jesse Keeling made an emergency forced entry into the residence where th...